The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) released the official notice of the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 on 7 September 2026 on its website ssc.gov.in. Through this examination, SSC will recruit candidates for the posts of Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Data Entry Operator (DEO) and Data Entry Operator Grade ‘A’ in various Ministries, Departments and Offices of the Government of India.
A total of approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies have been announced in this recruitment. The post-wise and category-wise final vacancy details will be released by the Commission on its website later. The online application process was open from 7 September 2026 to 7 October 2026, and the Commission has now also announced the proposed Tier-I exam dates — the examination will be held from 30 November 2026 to 31 December 2026.
For candidates who have applied, this article covers everything they need to know — important dates, vacancy details, eligibility, age limit, application fee, selection process and salary.
Recruitment Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Government of India |
| Exam Name | Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 |
| Advertisement / File No. | F. No. HQ-C1102/5/2026-C-1 |
| Post Names | LDC / JSA, DEO, DEO Grade ‘A’ |
| Total Vacancies | Approx. 2,536 (tentative) |
| Application Mode | Online (ssc.gov.in) |
| Job Location | Central Government offices across India |
| Official Website | https://ssc.gov.in/ |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Official Notice Released | 7 September 2026 |
| Online Application Started | 7 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 7 October 2026 (up to 11:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Online Fee Payment | 8 October 2026 (up to 11:00 PM) |
| Tier-I Exam (Proposed) | 30 November 2026 to 31 December 2026 |
| Tier-II Exam | To be announced later |
Note: The exam schedule is tentative and may change as per the Commission. Candidates should keep checking ssc.gov.in regularly.
Vacancy Details
The Commission has not yet published the post-wise breakup of vacancies. The total tentative vacancies and pay levels are as follows:
| Post Name | Pay Level | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Level-2 | ₹19,900 – ₹63,200 |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Level-4 and Level-5 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 and ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 |
| Data Entry Operator, Grade ‘A’ | Level-4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
In addition to the basic pay, selected candidates will also receive Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and other allowances as per government rules.
Educational Qualification (Eligibility)
- The candidate must have passed Class 12th (10+2) or an equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University. The result must have been declared by 7 October 2026.
- Special condition: For the posts of DEO / DEO Grade ‘A’ in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, the Staff Selection Commission and the Ministry of Culture, the candidate must have passed 12th in the Science stream with Mathematics as a subject.
Age Limit
- Age will be calculated as on 1 August 2026.
- Minimum age: 18 years, Maximum age: 27 years.
- This means the candidate must have been born not earlier than 2 August 1999 and not later than 1 August 2008 (both dates inclusive).
- Age relaxation: 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, 10 years for PwBD (13 years for PwBD-OBC and 15 years for PwBD-SC/ST), and for Ex-Servicemen as per rules.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹100 |
| Women Candidates (all categories) | No Fee |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen | No Fee |
The fee was paid online through BHIM UPI, Net Banking or Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and RuPay debit cards. The fee once paid is non-refundable.
Selection Process
- Tier-I: Computer Based Examination (CBE) — 100 questions, with negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer.
- Tier-II: Computer Based Examination.
- Skill / Typing Test: Typing Test for LDC/JSA (35 words per minute in English or 30 words per minute in Hindi) and Skill Test for DEO posts.
- Document Verification
- Medical Examination
How to Apply — For the Next Cycle and to Check Application Status
- Visit the official SSC website https://ssc.gov.in/.
- New candidates must first complete the One Time Registration (OTR).
- Log in with your OTR details and fill the application form for the respective examination.
- Upload your photograph, signature and required documents.
- Pay the application fee online if applicable, and carefully check the complete form before final submission.
- Keep a copy of the submitted application form safe with you.
Please note: The application window for CHSL 2026 closed on 7 October 2026. Candidates who have applied can check their application status, exam city and admit card related updates on the Commission’s website.
Important Links
| Link | Address |
|---|---|
| SSC Official Website | https://ssc.gov.in/ |
| Official Notice (Notice of Examination, CHSL 2026) | See the notice titled “Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026” dated 07-09-2026 in the Notices section of ssc.gov.in |
| Online Application / Login | https://ssc.gov.in/ |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many vacancies are there in SSC CHSL 2026?
Answer: As per the official notice, there are approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies. The post-wise and category-wise final details will be released by the Commission later.
Q2. What is the minimum qualification for SSC CHSL 2026?
Answer: The candidate must have passed Class 12th (10+2) from a recognized board. For some DEO posts, 12th in the Science stream with Mathematics is compulsory.
Q3. What is the age limit for SSC CHSL 2026?
Answer: 18 to 27 years as on 1 August 2026. Reserved categories get relaxation in the upper age limit as per rules.
Q4. When will the SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-I exam be held?
Answer: As per the Commission’s notice, the Tier-I exam is proposed from 30 November 2026 to 31 December 2026.
Q5. What was the application fee for SSC CHSL?
Answer: ₹100 for General, OBC and EWS candidates. The fee was completely waived for women, SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen candidates.
Q6. What is the salary of LDC and DEO in SSC CHSL?
Answer: LDC/JSA get a pay scale of ₹19,900–₹63,200 under Level-2, and DEO gets ₹25,500–₹92,300 under Level-4/5, in addition to allowances as per rules.
Source: Official website of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), ssc.gov.in — Notice of Examination, Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination 2026, dated 07-09-2026. Candidates must read the official notice carefully before taking any decision.